English colonists on the island of Jamaica in the seventeenth century struggled with adversity while attempting to establish a permanent settlement. At the time, England lacked the infrastructure necessary to support a prolonged military presence in the Caribbean and English colonists were left to defend themselves amidst hostile neighboring islands. Privateers and pirates operating from Tortuga were lured to Port Royal, Jamaica, and their presence provided a source of security to the colony. Money spent by the privateers also supported the local economy. As the economy of Jamaica stabilized, pirates who once protected the island began preying upon Jamaican shipping. Colonists, influenced by the geophysical environment, economics and politics, were stimulated by piracy to improve upon inadequate ship designs and create an adapted design to mitigate their vulnerability to piratical attack at sea. The resulting ships, known as Jamaica sloops, became renowned for speed and maneuverability.

Identifier:

FSU_migr_etd-0488 (IID)

Submitted Note:

A Thesis submitted to the Department of Anthropology in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Arts.